1955-1975

The Vietnam War

Early Years Cambodia & Vietnam ruled

by France as French Indochina

During WWII when France feel to the Germans it became part of Vichy France & run by the Japanese

Fell into famine When Japan is defeated in

1945, Ho Chi Minh & the Viet Minh declare Vietnam free

With the help of the British however, Vietnam is returned to the French

A guerilla war begins

Battle of Dien Bien PhuMarch-May 1954French fight Viet Minh

& loseVietnam becomes

divided by 17th Parallel at Geneva Conference

Eisenhower sends 675 as military advisors

North communist & South looked over by French

Capital North: HanoiCapital South: SaigonElections to be held

1956

Ngo Dinh DiemPut in power as Prime

Minister in SouthIn 1955 in rigged the

elections to become president of South

His brother Nhu becomes his 2nd in command and Madame Nhu is stand in 1st lady

Vietnam against the Emperor

CatholicHe cancels the

elections in 1956 knowing Ho Chi Minh would win

What traits does Michelle Obama have that may make her a

good First Lady?

What traits do you think a First Lady

should have?

Problems Under DiemHamlets: US helps

Diem relocate citizens to protective hamlet communities

-Failed

Religious Tension:-Places Catholic minority in power-Restricts practice of Buddhism-June 1963 Monk burns himself in protest-US begins to question Diem as leader

Diem’s DeathNovember 2, 1963Diem and his brother

are assassinated by a coup

JFK assures the coup the US will not stop the assassination

JFK increases # of troops to 16,000

(JFK killed a few weeks later)

War IntensifiesBy the end of

Eisenhower’s term 900 advisors

JFK increases troops to 16,000 by 1963

Gulf Of Tonkin Incident August 1964: Claim that U.S. destroyer Maddox had been attacked by NVA torpedoes off coast N. Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin resolution: Congress gave the president ability to “take any measures necessary repel any armed attacks against US”

Why is the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Important?

President

PP

Congress Supreme Court

Declares War

Raises the Military

Commander in Chief

Pre

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ower

D

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Why is this bad?

Repealed in 1973 by War Powers Resolution-President must consult with Congress

Escalation1965-25,000End 1965-184,0001966-385,0001967-485,0001968-543,000 *Tet

Key LeadersGeneral Westmoreland (Until 1968)

Robert McNamara Sec. of Defense

The DraftDecember 1, 1969Lottery by Birth date18-26 yr olds born

between Jan. 1, 1944 & Dec. 31, 1950

Where would you have fallen?

http://www.landscaper.net/draft.htm

*The Average age of a soldier will be 19